Plaque Remembering Late Montco Sheriff Is Unveiled

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- Montgomery County, Pa. is remembering its former sheriff, who died unexpectedly this year of a heart attack, with a bronze plaque that will hang in a first floor hallway at the County Courthouse.

On Wednesday, the hallway was filled with more than 150 people, a tribute to how well liked Sheriff John Durante was.

Represented here were the law enforcement community, lawyers, and politicians, remembering the man who gave nearly four decades of his life to public service as a deputy sheriff, county detective, and then sheriff starting in 2000.

His daughter Deanna spoke for the family:

"I think probably for once a Durante is speechless.  Just the fact that he was honored in such a beautiful way.  I mean, we knew him as our dad and we knew he was a good guy, but we didn't know how much he was responsible for and how much he did."

President Judge Richard Hodgson told the crowd that the day John Durante died, a piece of the courthouse died with him.

Reported by Brad Segall, KYW Newsradio 1060.